The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has voted to increase the speed limit to 70 miles-per-hour along more areas of the toll road.- Download the WGAL appThe decision will increase maximum speed in areas that currently have a 65 miles-per-hour speed limit.The change will happen sometime this spring.Areas that are now 55 miles-per-hour, like tunnels, will remain at that speed.Read more from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission below:· The Turnpike has been conducting a 70 mph pilot project since July 2014.· The speed limit has been 70 miles an hour on a 100 mile stretch between the Blue Mountain and Morgantown interchanges on the Pike in south-central Pennsylvania.· The Turnpike Commission has been working closely with PennDOT, partnering on the collection and analysis of crash and speed data on our system as well as on PennDOT highways that have been part of the 70 mph pilot.· During that pilot project, analysis revealed that there has been no significant increase in the average speed at which vehicles are traveling on the Turnpike in that 100-mile stretch.· Analysis also shows no statistical changes in accident rates for this 100 mile turnpike segment; in fact rates decreased in some parts of the study area -- even as traffic numbers increased.· Comparative analysis has been ongoing for almost 2 years; so Turnpike Commissioners were comfortable that we can implement the 70 mile an hour on the other portions of the Turnpike system in the near future.· We will again partner with PennDOT to announce a specific 70 mph implementation date later this spring.· All sections of the PA Turnpike system that are presently posted at 65 miles an hour will be signed for 70 miles an hour on implementation.· Areas now posted at 55 miles an hour will remain at 55. Those areas includeo work zoneso tunnelso mainline toll plazas (like Mid County and the Delaware River Bridge in the southeast )o the Eastern slope of the Allegheny mountain· The conversion will mean more consistency for Turnpike motorists: There will be only two possible speed limits, 70 miles an hour in most places and 55 in Turnpike work zones, tunnels and toll barrier plazas.· Language in Act 89 of 2013, the transportation funding Bill, enabled the Turnpike Commission and PennDOT to decide if it wanted to increase speed limit on our system.

PENNSYLVANIA —

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has voted to increase the speed limit to 70 miles-per-hour along more areas of the toll road.

The decision will increase maximum speed in areas that currently have a 65 miles-per-hour speed limit.

The change will happen sometime this spring.

Areas that are now 55 miles-per-hour, like tunnels, will remain at that speed.

Read more from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission below:· The Turnpike has been conducting a 70 mph pilot project since July 2014.· The speed limit has been 70 miles an hour on a 100 mile stretch between the Blue Mountain and Morgantown interchanges on the Pike in south-central Pennsylvania.· The Turnpike Commission has been working closely with PennDOT, partnering on the collection and analysis of crash and speed data on our system as well as on PennDOT highways that have been part of the 70 mph pilot.· During that pilot project, analysis revealed that there has been no significant increase in the average speed at which vehicles are traveling on the Turnpike in that 100-mile stretch.· Analysis also shows no statistical changes in accident rates for this 100 mile turnpike segment; in fact rates decreased in some parts of the study area -- even as traffic numbers increased.· Comparative analysis has been ongoing for almost 2 years; so Turnpike Commissioners were comfortable that we can implement the 70 mile an hour on the other portions of the Turnpike system in the near future.· We will again partner with PennDOT to announce a specific 70 mph implementation date later this spring.· All sections of the PA Turnpike system that are presently posted at 65 miles an hour will be signed for 70 miles an hour on implementation.· Areas now posted at 55 miles an hour will remain at 55. Those areas includeo work zoneso tunnelso mainline toll plazas (like Mid County and the Delaware River Bridge in the southeast )o the Eastern slope of the Allegheny mountain· The conversion will mean more consistency for Turnpike motorists: There will be only two possible speed limits, 70 miles an hour in most places and 55 in Turnpike work zones, tunnels and toll barrier plazas.· Language in Act 89 of 2013, the transportation funding Bill, enabled the Turnpike Commission and PennDOT to decide if it wanted to increase speed limit on our system.